“Co-Majority Leader Dean Skelos (R-LI) blasted the Democratic-controlled Assembly’s passage of a $9-an-hour minimum wage, saying it would destroy jobs by raising costs an estimated $2,800 per employee. . . . We wonder how long it will be before Skelos hails as a success a minimum-wage hike because it is below the $9-an-hour the Democrats want.”

The answer seems to be one week. On Monday, the state Senate approved a budget resolution — with the support of the Republicans — that included this language, which is rightly being reported as a step down from their previous position:

“The Senate will consider modifications to the Executive proposal to increase the minimum wage. Like wages for many workers, the minimum wage has not kept up with the pace of inflation. The Senate will consider phasing in any minimum wage increase over three years beginning in 2013.”

If a minimum-wage increase is really the “jobs-killer” Skelos said it is, why is the GOP considering it at all?